A tearoom revolution

Towards the end of the 19th century, a new institution had sprung up as one of the first respectable places for women to meet in public: the tearoom. Catering to a new class of financially independent women, tearooms offered an elegant surrounding in which to escape the busy streets for a light refreshment, a chat, or even a heated debate about politics and women's rights. It's hardly surprising that amidst the fine porcelain and sumptuous cake stands, this is where the first suffrage groups were formed. Paying homage to these determined heroines, this fine selection dishes up a range of aromas, as assertive as they are sophisticated.